Thill-tug.



Patentedlaml l L 'as mm). l 5 so THILL TUS.

(Applimion med ocu 1e, 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES'BIRDELL MEAD, OF EAST PALESTINE, OHIO.

THlLL-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersilatent No. 666,107, dated January 15, i901.

Application led October 16, 1900. Serial No. 33,242. iNo model.)

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES BIRDELL MEAD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at East Palestine, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Tugs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certainnew and useful improvements in shaft-tugs for harness, and has for its object to construct the loop of the tug without the ordinary stitching, thereby rendering the device stronger and more durable than'where the loop is com-v posed of two or more plies of leather stitched together and the invention also aims to so construct the tug as to provide means whereby the buckle usually carried by the tug will be prevented from wearing the saddle-strap ofthe harness, as in the usual construction, where the upper bar of this buckle directly engages the saddle-strap, the wear of the same thereon is liable to damage the saddlestrap and cause breaking thereof at this point.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the particular construction and ar-- rangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly claimed, and in describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part of this speciflcation, wherein like numerals of reference will be employed for designating like parts in both views, in which- Figure 1 is a detail perspective View of my improved tug, showing the same attached to the saddle-strap. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the belly-band strap partly broken away.`

To construct a tug in accordance with my invention, I provide 'a dat strap 1, made with a Wide portion, out of which the loop 2 is formed, the strap being provided near its upper end with a slot or opening 3, which is adapted to receive the saddle-strap 4 before the latter is attached to the buckle 5, carried by the tug. This strap l is provided just below the slot or opening 3 with a larger opening 6 and is further provided justbelow this y opening 6 with a slot 7.

The loop of the tug is formed from the larger portion of the strap 1, and this strap is reduced to form the part 8, which holdsthe buckle 5, and also forms the means for attaching to the belly-band. (Not shown.) rIhe strap is reduced by cutting away a part thereof along each edge, which forms shoulders 9, the reduced part 10 of the strap being doubled upon itself close to these shoulders and inserted through the opening 6, which doubled portion carries the buckle 5. The reduced portion 10 of the strap is then inserted through the slot 7 and through slots l2, provided in the strap 1 near the bottom of the loop, the material of the strap 1 that is between the opening 6 and slot 7 and that between the two slots 12 forming keepers 14 for the strap l0. A keeper l5 is mounted upon thestrap 10 between these two keepers 14 to receive the end of the saddle-strap 4, as shown. I preferably provide an inner lining 16, of leather or like material, which may be secured to the strap 1 near the upper end of the loop by riveting, as at 17, such rivets being placed above where they would contact with the shafts of the vehicle. With this construction of tug it will be observed that the upper end of the strap l extends upward a sufficient distance to form a bearing for the buckle 5, the upper bar of which rests against this extended end of the strap instead of against the saddle-strap, as in the ordinary y construction, and thereby prevents wearing of the saddle-strap by contact of the said bar therewith. The strap 10, which attaches to the belly-band, being first drawn through the upper keeper 14 and then through the lower one of these keepers is held in close contact with the loop, and the provision of this upper keeper enables me to double the strap 10 at its upper end to hold the buckle 5 without play thereon.

I am aware that prior to my invention tugs have been constructed in which the upper end of the strap was extended to form a bearing for the buckle carried by the tug, and therefore do not claim this feature broadly; but in this prior construction no means is provided for doubling the belly-band strap 10 at its upper end to hold the buckle of the tug,

IOD

its length to form a belly-band strap and the reduced portion being doubled upon itself and placed through the opening in said strap and a buckle on said doubled portion, the part of the strap above the slot near its upper end forming a bearing for the upper bar of the buckle to prevent Wearing contact of said bar WithV the saddle-strap, the wider portion of thel strap being formed into a loop with integral keepersA through which the reduced end of the strap is inserted, a keeper carried on the reduced end between the keepers formed integral with the strap, and at lining of leather or the like riveted t0 the inner face of the loop, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimonyvwhereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES BIRDELL MEAD.

Witnesses:

J OHN NOLAND, H. C. EvERT. 

